Here are some pictures from a memorial we held for Duckwing today, in memory of the month he went to the hospital. A special shout out to MBello, NetherNick, Knmh, tSwopCaml, Steel BAron, Royal Flush, Peter Boss, pilotgirl_17, ZebraUp, Killitary, Destroyer24, and ripster. All of us where there to honor Duckwing.

RIP Duckwing!

Even though I had never flown with him, it was still very touching to hear his story.

R.I.P Duckwing!

Here are some more pictures!
These here are from Swop telling the story of Duckwing

And here are the rest!

RIP Duckwing!

Ive never got to fly with him saddly, but it would have been an honor to meet him in the air. Ive heard some great stories of his glory. Sounded like a hell of a guy.

There will only be one duckwing.

I really miss that guy. It was always good fun talking to him. Good memories lol.

Do not look for me brother. Do not keep the boatman. Two coins for he and two for thee. We will meet again at the river, untill then you will live eternally in memory..

Your service affords u passage brother, your love affords your memory.

Salute.
CMsgt Braxton K. Craft Jr
Proplure
USAF RET.

the hospital where Duckwing passed, Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC

Thankyou so much --J-- !

Skydavis? A couple of months before duckwing died. I was in a game with you and duckwing. And you two were getting into tanks and head up to what is now called duckwing mountain and would throw ur tanks over the cliff. Duckwing would always show "lol's" in chat. The only time i would see that. You would chat. "Weeeee". And asked me to get into tank and do the same. I reluctantly agreed to be in tank and joined in the fun

Sky Davis. Do you remember that? I do. Fun times on what is called duckwing mtn. He loved that mountain right behind german base.

Thank you --J-- for posting that!

Royal Flush wrote: the hospital where Duckwing passed, Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC

Hey Royal, how do you know this is where he passed? I tried for some time to trace and verify Duckwing's story, but without success. Can you provide a new lead?

Ronnie, talk with tswopcaml and wig, they seemed to know him well. I personally don't know that much, and what I do I got from Swop.

Hope this helps!

Royal Flush wrote: Ronnie, talk with tswopcaml and wig, they seemed to know him well. I personally don't know that much, and what I do I got from Swop.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Royal. Swop? Do you have new information? It would be great to get Duckwing's story on record.

Nice Post Royal!! That's when I knew I wanted to be in the 111th~

BUMP, Moving this up for some of the new guys. From what I've been told, a veteran who had lost one of his arms played this game. One handed on a phone. After he passed away Zup named the mountain behind the german base after him. Now there is a monument up there. If you get the chance, fly up there and see it. From far away it looks like a rubber ducky, but as you get closer it changes to a Totum pole thingy.

Wow... I never knew the story. I'll now have a little more reverence whenever I go visit the duck.

I remember a group of us flew around till we found it. I never knew this story either--DF truly is a family and a wonderful one at that.

Duckwing was a mom, is I understand it he lost more than just his arm and Iraq. He played this game from the hospital with one hand and whooped most of those who played against him, until he lost his battle with multiple medical problems. The mountain, was named after him after he died, because it was the highest mountain on the map, I believe it still is. Supermanadded the monument a year so after he died

Yes duck. Was a great guy he was a sniper in marine's he was going back to a pick up after 10 days on mission. As he and his spoter were heading back to pickup point spoter tripped an IED. He died there on that mountan in Afganistan and Duckwing lost both legs and his left arm. Only reason he lived was chopper was already there when it happened. He was filled with shrapnel that worked its way to his heart and he died. He played dogfight on an iPad u try it it's hard. He would use a pencil eraser to talk to u.

*[M]VonHulk wrote: BUMP, Moving this up for some of the new guys. From what I've been told, a veteran who had lost one of his arms played this game. One handed on a phone. After he passed away Zup named the mountain behind the german base after him. Now there is a monument up there. If you get the chance, fly up there and see it. From far away it looks like a rubber ducky, but as you get closer it changes to a Totum pole thingy.

That's cool! Never knew where it was. Had heard the name quite often, but never knew the story. Need to check it out!

Any other info on this great man would be appreciated. I have only read some of the stories. I never got to meet him.

I only came into this just at about the time he passed, but from what i remember he was always a great playyer and solid teammate. He was famous for staying with you no matter the odds or the pain he was in. " i wont bail on you! " was his motto i believe.

BStrachan wrote: Yes duck. Was a great guy he was a sniper in marine's he was going back to a pick up after 10 days on mission. As he and his spoter were heading back to pickup point spoter tripped an IED. He died there on that mountan in Afganistan and Duckwing lost both legs and his left arm. Only reason he lived was chopper was already there when it happened. He was filled with shrapnel that worked its way to his heart and he died. He played dogfight on an iPad u try it it's hard. He would use a pencil eraser to talk to u.

I thought it was his Legs, I just wasn't sure, as I was a new player and not a mom yet when he died. I didn't want to miss speak

I am not really sure about the extent of his injuries, i am pretty sure he had lost one arm. Maybe McFate can find the threads we need, he is pretty good at researching the forum.

[*M] TR wrote: I am not really sure about the extent of his injuries, i am pretty sure he had lost one arm. Maybe McFate can find the threads we need, he is pretty good at researching the forum.

He was a triple amputee

I forgot to tell u guys that I was on the phone talking to him when he had a visitor. The sniper that wrote that book and Clint made a bad ass movie about. He told me there was a pict. Of duck and a few other snipers in the book. But I have not seen it.

i knew he was hit with an ied, i never knew he was a sniper though...sometimes i come across the pictures that i posted above on my laptop and remembering that time gives me chills...wish i had gotten to fly with him at least once

Thought I would put this thread "top of mind" again, because some of the newer players were asking about the duck on the mountain.